Blue Devils don't flinch on success

DURHAM — So much has been accomplished, so much more to go for the Duke football team.

It’s almost as if the Blue Devils are saying: Don’t look now, just keep going.

For a program that hasn’t been to the postseason since 1994, a 4-1 start to the season hasn’t been noteworthy.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves,” cornerback Tony Foster said. “We’re happy, but we still have goals. “(The bowl issue) is in the back of your mind. But it won’t come if we don’t go 1-0 in the week we’re in.”

Saturday, Duke welcomes Virginia to Wallace Wade Stadium for a meeting between Coastal Division members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

All other things can be put aside.

“Right now, it’s Virginia and that’s all that’s on our mind,” linebacker Kyler Brown said. “Coaches have done a good job not getting ahead of ourselves.”

Duke has won its first three home games of a season for the first time since 1994. Five games into the season, it’s the third-best start for the Blue Devils since 1966.

Keeping focus on each game is part of the plan, even with increasing attention and speculation that this could turn into something special.

“It’s real easy to focus,” said quarterback Anthony Boone, who’ll be called upon for extended duty if starter Sean Renfree’s injured elbow isn’t deemed healed enough to play today. “We haven’t had a winning season here in a long time.”

The Blue Devils have been scoring at a record clip. Their 185 points so far reflect the highest total through five games in school history.

So it’s no time to be distracted, coach David Cutcliffe said.

“Special people learn when they win,” Cutcliffe said. “We’re going to keep that buzz.”

Injuries have been compiling at such a clip that the Blue Devils have been forced to alter their depth chart with regularity.

“They’ve been amazing keeping their eye on the bulls-eye,” Cutcliffe said.

The Blue Devils realize they haven’t exactly arrived at greatness. Their victories have come against opponents with a combined record of 6-12.

Still, it’s Duke’s record that’s most important to them.

“We’re trying to get better every week,” Foster said. “No matter what your record is, we can focus on getting better the next week. There’s definitely more excitement because when you win you feel good.”

Virginia brings a three-game losing streak into the game. Last year, the Cavaliers broke Duke’s three-year winning streak in the series in a game that ended with bitter feelings.

“We’ve had some wild ones since we’ve been here and (this next game) will have its own personality,” Cutcliffe said.

“I remember the bad feeling mostly because we lost,” Foster said.

Now, the Blue Devils again are tasting winning ways and are seeking the means to keep those feelings. In a program that’s desperate for a winning season, every game seems like a must-win for Duke.